Prepare against Michael Knaak
DEU · World #78,409 classical · FIDE ID 24613002
When preparing against Michael Knaak, expect 1.e4 in 80% of White games. Against 1.e4 the reply is 1...e5 (39% of games); against 1.d4, 1...d5 (53%).
Our database contains 129 games by Michael Knaak, covering Apr 2004 to Jul 2026. Below you'll find Michael Knaak's most-played openings with White and Black, career performance record, notable wins and top events — everything you need to scout Michael Knaak before a game. You can open the same data in the free interactive preparation workstation, which builds a move-by-move opening tree from every game.
Ratings
| Time control | Current | Peak | Peak date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Classical | 1,795 | 2,125 | Jul 2004 |
Performance record
| Split | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 129 | 47 | 22 | 60 | 36.4% |
| As White | 65 | 22 | 10 | 33 | 33.8% |
| As Black | 64 | 25 | 12 | 27 | 39.1% |
Move-by-move preparation stats
Straight from the preparation tree built over all of Michael Knaak's games — the same tree the interactive prep board lets you walk to any depth. Scores are from Michael Knaak's side.
First moves as White (65 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e4 | 52 | 80.0% | 41.3% |
| d4 | 9 | 13.8% | 38.9% |
| b3 | 2 | 3.1% | 50.0% |
| Nf3 | 1 | 1.5% | 100.0% |
| Nc3 | 1 | 1.5% | 0.0% |
Main lines as White
- 1.e4 — 80% of White games, 41.3% score
- …c5 (38% of these games) — Knaak usually continues d4 (25.0% score)
- …e5 (23% of these games) — Knaak usually continues Nc3 (25.0% score)
- …e6 (10% of these games) — Knaak usually continues d4 (50.0% score)
- 1.d4 — 14% of White games, 38.9% score
- …Nf6 (56% of these games) — Knaak usually continues Bg5 (0.0% score)
- …f5 (22% of these games) — Knaak usually continues Nc3 (25.0% score)
- …e6 (11% of these games) — Knaak usually continues e4 (100.0% score)
As Black against 1.e4 (31 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| e5 | 12 | 38.7% | 37.5% |
| e6 | 10 | 32.3% | 55.0% |
| c5 | 6 | 19.4% | 66.7% |
| Nf6 | 2 | 6.5% | 100.0% |
| g6 | 1 | 3.2% | 100.0% |
As Black against 1.d4 (19 games)
| Move | Games | Share | Player score |
|---|---|---|---|
| d5 | 10 | 52.6% | 40.0% |
| Nf6 | 6 | 31.6% | 41.7% |
| f5 | 2 | 10.5% | 25.0% |
| e6 | 1 | 5.3% | 0.0% |
Michael Knaak's chess games
All 129 games by Michael Knaak in the Chess.ceo database (Apr 2004 - Jul 2026) are free to browse, search and replay: filter by opening, opponent, event or date on the player page, or step through any game on the analysis board. Record: 47 wins, 22 draws, 60 losses.
Openings as White
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| B21 | Sicilian: Smith-Morra Gambit | 10 | 2/1/7 | 20.0% |
| C29 | Vienna Game | 5 | 1/2/2 | 20.0% |
| B06 | Modern Defense | 4 | 1/0/3 | 25.0% |
| B32 | Sicilian | 4 | 3/0/1 | 75.0% |
| C12 | French: Classical Variation | 3 | 1/0/2 | 33.3% |
| B02 | Alekhine Defense | 3 | 1/0/2 | 33.3% |
| A01 | Nimzovich-Larsen attack | 2 | 1/0/1 | 50.0% |
| A80 | Dutch Defense | 2 | 0/1/1 | 0.0% |
| C41 | Philidor | 2 | 0/1/1 | 0.0% |
| B12 | Caro-Kann: Fantasy Variation | 2 | 1/1/0 | 50.0% |
Openings as Black
| ECO | Opening | Games | W/D/L | Win rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| D02 | Queen's Pawn Game | 7 | 0/2/5 | 0.0% |
| C41 | Philidor | 5 | 0/2/3 | 0.0% |
| C18 | French: Winawer Variation | 5 | 3/1/1 | 60.0% |
| A13 | English Opening | 4 | 2/1/1 | 50.0% |
| D07 | Queen's Gambit | 4 | 3/0/1 | 75.0% |
| A20 | English Opening: Reverse Sicilian | 3 | 2/1/0 | 66.7% |
| A80 | Dutch Defense | 3 | 0/1/2 | 0.0% |
| A51 | Budapest Defense | 2 | 0/1/1 | 0.0% |
| B22 | French: Exchange Variation | 2 | 1/1/0 | 50.0% |
| A70 | Benoni Defense | 2 | 1/0/1 | 50.0% |
Notable wins
| Date | Opponent | Elo | Event | ECO |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 2009 | Thomas Nonnenmacher | 2,213 | ch-Pinneberg | A31 |
| Oct 2005 | Manfred Kroencke | 2,194 | Hamburg Junge Open | C01 |
| Sep 2004 | Jamshid Atri | 2,145 | ch-Pinneberg | B07 |
| Oct 2005 | Helmut Krausser | 2,130 | Hamburg Junge Open | B15 |
| Aug 2012 | Klaus van Riesen | 2,070 | ch-Pinneberg | B06 |
Top events
| Event | Year | Games | Score | TPR |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ch-Pinneberg | 2012 | 46 | 26 | 1,892 |
| Hamburg St Pauli Open A | 2013 | 10 | 3 | 1,889 |
| 6th Wichern Open | 2001 | 9 | 3.5 | 1,680 |
| 15th Vienna Open A | 2006 | 9 | 2 | 1,856 |
| Hamburg Junge Open | 2005 | 9 | 4.5 | 2,186 |
| 4th Wichern Open | 1997 | 9 | 3.5 | 2,108 |
| 5th Hamburg HSK Elo Open | 2007 | 7 | 2.5 | 1,748 |
| Hamburg HSK Easter Open | 2024 | 7 | 3.5 | 1,744 |
Interactive opening tree from all 129 games, weak-spot detection and engine analysis.
Start preparationFrequently asked questions
Where can I find Michael Knaak's chess games?
129 games by Michael Knaak, from Apr 2004 to Jul 2026, are free to browse and replay move by move — no signup needed. The preparation view groups them into an opening tree showing every line Michael Knaak has played.
What does Michael Knaak play on the first move as White?
Across 65 games with White in our database, Michael Knaak opens with 1.e4 (80% of games), 1.d4 (14% of games), 1.b3 (3% of games). Against 1.e4 as Black, Michael Knaak answers 1...e5 (39% of games), 1...e6 (32% of games), 1...c5 (19% of games). Against 1.d4: 1...d5 (53% of games), 1...Nf6 (32% of games), 1...f5 (11% of games).
What openings does Michael Knaak play as White?
As White, Michael Knaak's most-played openings in our database are: Sicilian: Smith-Morra Gambit (10 games, 20.0% win rate); Vienna Game (5 games, 20.0% win rate); Modern Defense (4 games, 25.0% win rate). The full breakdown of 65 games with White is in the table above.
What openings does Michael Knaak play as Black?
As Black, Michael Knaak most often plays: Queen's Pawn Game (7 games, 0.0% win rate); Philidor (5 games, 0.0% win rate); French: Winawer Variation (5 games, 60.0% win rate). See the table above for the top ten Black openings across 64 games.
What is Michael Knaak's FIDE rating?
Michael Knaak is currently rated 1,795 in classical chess. Peak classical rating: 2,125 (Jul 2004).
How many games has Michael Knaak played?
Our database contains 129 games by Michael Knaak, covering Apr 2004 to Jul 2026. Overall record: 47 wins, 22 draws, 60 losses (36.4% win rate).
How do I prepare against Michael Knaak?
129 games by Michael Knaak reveal their opening repertoire, most-played lines, and the variations where they score worst — the raw material for targeted preparation. The interactive opening tree lets you walk every line to any depth.